July Plants: Hydrangea, Phlox and Sedum

One of my new job responsibilities at Faddegon’s Nursery (http://www.faddegons.com/)  is to write about a featured plant and recommended companion plantings each month.  For those who do not get Faddegon’s monthly Enewsletters (you can sign up for them by visiting Faddegon’s web site), below are the stars that Faddegon’s is showcasing for July 3 – 16.  Faddegon’s offers a SPECIAL SALE on all featured plants (these combos are changed every two weeks): buy THREE of these (any combo) and get a FOURTH ONE FREE! (of equal or lesser value).  So many plants; so little time!

Hydrangea.  Sun to shade (depending on the cultivar).  Summer through fall blooms.  Flowers can be white, blue, pink, ‘blurple’ or lime.  1.5’ – 15’+ tall.  There are so many choices in this shrub family.  Smooth (arborescens) and Panicle (paniculata) Hydrangeas are the most drought tolerant.  Big-leaf Hydrangea (macrophylla) like a moisture-retentive soil or they may ‘pout’ in the afternoon when placed in full sun.  Panicle Hydrangeas can be purchased as multi-stemmed shrubs or single trunk trees.  Only the Big-leaf Hydrangeas will change color (pink or blue) based on the soil’s pH.  ALL Hydrangeas make a glorious display in the landscape as well as in floral arrangements.  Zones 3 – 8, depending on the cultivar.  If you want to learn more about these beauties, including care and pruning, attend our free Hydrangea workshop on July 21 at 11:00 a.m.

Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox).  Sun to Part Sun.  Summer blooms.  15” – 42”+ tall.  Most colors except yellow.  Fragrant flowers.  Phlox have always been considered the mainstay of cottage gardens.  Their lovely mounded flowers

and sweet fragrance never fail to draw smiles.  Powdery mildew (white stuff on the leaves) used to be a frown-maker on these but thankfully many mildew-resistant varieties are now available.  There are also dwarf, compact selections (i.e., the Flame and Volcano series) for small spaces and containers.  ‘Pina Colada’ (both the Phlox and the drink) is a favorite of mine!  Zones 3 – 8

Sedum.  Sun.  Summer and fall blooms.  4” – 30” tall.  Pink, white, brick red, purple and yellow blooms.  Drought tolerant.  Sedum provide three seasons of interest between their colorful flowers and succulent foliage.  There are upright Sedums, like ‘Autumn Joy’ and prostrate, creeping  ones such as ‘Dragon’s Blood’ and ‘Angelina’.  The creeping and shorter mounded varieties

bloom in summer, followed by their ‘bigger brothers’ in fall.  Taller cultivars can be pinched back by ½ their stem length in late June to create a shorter, more compact (non-flopping) plant later that season.  Zones 3 – 9